Page 11 - Heros of the Faith - Textbook w videos short

In his later years, he tried to settle disputes about the date to celebrate Easter, and he confronted one of the
church's most troublesome heretics, the Gnostic Marcion, calling him "the first born of Satan," when he ran into
him in Rome. Polycarp was also responsible for converting many from Gnosticism. His only existing writing, a
pastoral letter to the church at Philippi, shows he had little formal education, and was unpretentious, humble,
and direct.

He was arrested at 86 by Roman soldiers and interrogated by Statius Quadratus in front of a huge crowd.
Polycarp seemed unfazed by the interrogation; he carried on a witty dialogue with Quadratus until Quadratus
lost his temper and threatened Polycarp: he'd be thrown to wild beasts; he'd be burned at the stake, and so on.
Polycarp just told Quadratus that while the proconsul's fire lasts but a little while, the fires of judgment
("reserved for the ungodly," he slyly added) cannot be quenched. Polycarp concluded, "But why do you delay?
Come, do what you will."

Soldiers then grabbed him to nail him to a stake, but Polycarp stopped them: "Leave me as I am. For he who
grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire
from nails." He prayed aloud, the fire was lit, and his flesh was consumed. The chronicler of this martyrdom said
it was "not as burning flesh but as bread baking or as gold and silver refined in a furnace."

The account concluded by saying that Polycarp's death was remembered by "everyone"—"he is even spoken of
by the heathen in every place."

Peter wrote the Asian churches to "…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1
Pet. 3:15).

How about you? Do you know the Word well enough to answer those skeptics who may challenge your
Biblical views? If the government took away your Bible and your other “religious books”, how much of the
Word of God could you reproduce for others to read? In eternity, which activity will have more value? Like
the apologists of the Early Church, we need to stand up by FAITH to defend the views and clear teachings of
God’s Word.

2nd and 3rd Centuries

We saw that the church in the 2 and 3 centuries endured great persecution from Rome. Thousands were
nd
rd
burned, eaten alive, crucified, tortured and put to death because they would not worship Caesar as God.
nd
During the last great persecution of the 2 century (cir. 303 AD) Diocletian killed thousands of Christians.
However, some believers under threat of death recanted and were called Tratatore or lapsi. Diocletian even
forced his Christian wife and daughter to recant their faith.

When Diocletian died, his assistant emperor’s sons battled one another to ascend to the
throne. Constantine (controller of Britain and Gaul (France)) and Maxentius (controller of
Italy and Rome) fought the final Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD). The evening before the
battle, Constantine marched toward Rome and saw a cross of light above the sun with the
words, “Hoc Signo Vinces” which means, “By this sign thou shalt conquer.” Constantine
believed the Christian God must be very powerful so decided to declare himself a follower
of Christ.

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